Finite element analysis (FEA) is finding wider usage in industry as more companies are realizing the benefits of precision analysis for optimization than was previously available from more traditional engineering methods. For companies that do not want to invest in these these software tools at this time, or that wish to augment existing in-house capabilities, we can provide expertise in the use of several common commercially-available FEA software packages, including ANSYS, COSMOS, & ALGOR, either on-site or over the internet.
Many benefits can be realized through the proper use of FEA for exploring means to improve existing designs, or diagnose problems. While not necessary to perform FEA, understanding the fundamentals of advanced mathematics, computer algorithms, stress theory, and the material science behind the methods is helpful to ensure results are interpreted and applied correctly and in the correct context. More than providing pretty pictures which contain some valuable information about peak stress and strain in a given part, FEA can provide a treasure trove of valuable information, such as:
The most economical approach for design optimization,
Methods for reducing material usage in mass-produced items,
The exact reason for an in-service failure, and how to modify the part to prevent recurrence,
The best way to apply alternative materials, and
Physical limitations and design life of a part.
Simplifying assumptions of the basic problem are important to ensure efforts and resources are used in the most effective manner, before performing FEA. These are important to ensure simplified results of the most important factors to ensure that the FEA is cost-effective. Sound engineering judgment is required to ensure that the most important factors are adequately accounted for.
In the real world, loads on a part or structure are often not merely mechanical or thermal in nature, but often include combined effects of thermal, static-mechanical, electromagnetic, nuclear, or transient-mechanical, including shock and vibration. In cases where more complex analysis is required, we can bring expertise in other computer tools to bare on the problem as needed.
We have specialized expertise in the fundamentals of FEA methods, and extensive experience evaluating complex, real-world problems such as those involving multiple load types in both static and transient conditions.
